"Yoon Government's Incompetence and Recklessness Must Be Judged... Factional Conflict Should Not Be Encouraged"
On the 1st, Jeong Seong-ho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated, "Factional conflicts between pro-Moon and pro-Lee groups should be sanctioned by the nomination management committee." Jeong, a four-term lawmaker, is considered a key figure of the 'pro-Lee faction' and a close aide to party leader Lee Jae-myung.
Appearing on 'YTN News King with Park Ji-hoon,' Jeong said, "Judging the incompetence and recklessness of the Yoon Seok-yeol government is the Democratic Party's historic task. Since the political survival of the Democratic Party depends on this general election, we must unite around the leader."
He described the mention of pro-Moon and pro-Lee factions within the Democratic Party as a 'frame' used by the ruling party. Jeong said, "All Democratic Party lawmakers are pro-Lee. Although I am called non-pro-Moon, I am pro-Moon. If we point fingers and fight over pro-Moon and pro-Lee, that is wrong. The nomination committee must take strict action on this."
Former lawmaker Lee Eon-ju is holding a publication celebration for the 'Busan Independence Declaration' at a hotel in Yeouido, Seoul on the 23rd. Lee has effectively entered the race for the Busan mayoral by-election. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
Regarding the recruitment of former lawmaker Lee Eon-ju, who was a fierce critic of President Moon Jae-in, Jeong said, "I thought it would be good to boldly join forces for an anti-Yoon coalition, so I came up with the idea."
He added, "Ten years ago, when I was the deputy floor leader, Lee Eon-ju was the floor spokesperson, and we communicated as senior and junior in the legal profession. Even after President Yoon took office, she was the one who criticized the Yoon administration most sharply despite being in the ruling party." He noted that Lee's reinstatement to the party has not yet been decided. Jeong said, "It depends on her own decision, and it is also greatly influenced by the party's internal situation, so it is not a decided matter yet."
Meanwhile, Lee Eon-ju revealed on the 23rd of last month that she was directly encouraged to rejoin the party by leader Lee Jae-myung as part of efforts to broaden the base for winning the general election. However, voices opposing her reinstatement grew strong, mainly among pro-Moon faction members within the party. As internal conflicts over Lee's reinstatement intensified, Jeong clarified the day before that it was not Lee Jae-myung but himself who encouraged Lee to rejoin the party.
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